WAR PENSIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS

LACK OF SYMPATHY ONEHUNGA R.S.A.'S VIEW Mr. H. O. Heighton, secretary of the Onehunga Returned Services' Association, which has a membership of 600, including nearly 130 men 0 f the Second N.ZJC.F., writes:— At a recent general meeting of my association a protracted and frank discussion took place on the matter of war pensions and the adminis- • tration of same. At the close of the I discussion the following resolution | was unanimously carried:— "That this general meeting of the members of the Onehunga and District Returned Soldiers' Association views with alarm the apparent lack of vision of the War Pensions Appeal Board and its unsympathetic attention to the cause of the appealing servicemen or ex-servicemen. The meeting feels that the activities of the board are regulated by the officers of the Department and is 'consequently, by virtue of such bureaucratic control, unable to impartially adjudicate in accordance with the firmly established • principles of British justice and contrary to the oft-repeated promises and pledges made to the appellants when leaving the Dominion on active service." The pledges and promises referred to were, it is granted, made in no light manner, and the members present were convinced that the Government intended, and still intends that they be given effect to in their entirety. It would appear, however, that too much departmental control is permitted. Particularly does this apply to the matter of pensions, which it was understood would be sufficient and generous, and to the Pensions Department, who would administer the Act with sympathetic justice. But the control of this all important department is agam, as in 191418 and the years following, in the hands of men, who apparently exer-v cise little, if any imagination or' vision. It can be stated that it is abundantly clear that the main consideration of the Pensions Department is the saving of expense by the cutting of war pensions to the bare minimum. Pensions under review by the War Pensions Board, or those cases appearing before the Pensions Appeal Board, are not, in the opinion of the vast majority of ex-service-' men, treated on their merits, but in line with a definite policy dictated by the Pensions Department. The parsimony displayed by, and the cheese-paring abilities of the controllers of the department would be more suitably employed in connection with war munitions and supplies. There is no place for them in the handling of broken bodies and minds. Strong exception can be taken to the apparent unsympathetic and stereotyped ■ decisions of the Pensions Appeal Board as at present constituted. To this tribunal the exserviceman has always looked for a measure of generous" justice, which the Pensions Board appeared to lack, and in the case of Auckland exservicemen at least, with more or less satisfactory results. This desirable state of affairs was rudely and unpardonably shattered when some two years ago the medical man appointed by the Government was "sacked," the R.S.A. nominee resigned in protest, and the chairman was retired. The worth, experience and harmonious working of this particular board was irretrievably lost. Why? The reason, it is suggested, was in its method of treating each case strictly on its merits and reaching its decisions accordingly. This method, apparently, did not meet with Departmental approval. To-day the set-up of the Auckland Appeal Board has not the confidence of the ex-servicemen. Delays, irritations, red tape, the necessity of drawing on social security, patriotic and R.S.A. funds (funds which were not accumulated for the purpose of allowing the Department to Side-step its responsibilities) are happening, and are caus- ; ing in the minds of young returned servicemen resentment and bitterness. This state of affairs must cease, and the feeling of antagonism as between the war pensioner and the Department, which was most marked after the war of 1914-18, is again painfully evident and must be rectified. The solution of the situation, which is causing much concern, is in the hands of the War Cabinet and the Government. The members of my association, in accord with all active members of the N.Z.R.S.A., call upon those responsible for immediate action. The War Pensions Act is broad enough, if it is administered in accordance with the "Christian principles" about which much is spoken, though are seldom evident in practice. In short, what is required is the oft-repeated promises of the Government of the day carried into effect, and the administration of the Pensions Board and of the Pensions Appeal Board divorced from Departmental interference.